Outdoor Recreation Now the Largest Sector of Montana's Economy

Governor Bullock's Office of Outdoor Recreation now makes more sense than ever, as does taking good care of our public lands

Last week, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) confirmed what many in our state have known for some time - that outdoor recreation is not only intrinsic to our way of life in Montana, it is also one of the most crucial parts of our economy. According to OIA's new figures, outdoor recreation is now the largest sector of Montana's economy, generating over $7 billion per year in consumer spending and supporting over 70,000 jobs that pay more than $2 billion worth of wages. These numbers, while eye-popping, are even more impressive when you realize that they don't even account for indirect economic effects, such as the thousands of start-ups and small businesses that choose to locate here to take advantage of our outdoor way of life.

Reprinted under the Fair Use doctrine of international
copyright law. Full copyright retained by the original publication. In
accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving
the included information for research and educational purposes.